• February 11, 2000: Seselj press conference - full transcript

• ANEM press release: DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER WARNS OF EXECUTION OF JOURNALISTS

• Journalists to file criminal charges against Seselj

• ANEM'S WEEKLY REPORT ON MEDIA REPRESSION. FEBRUARY 5 - 11, 2000

• February 14, 2000 - ANEM press releases: State media denounces Aleksandar Tijanic

• State media open season on Aleksandar Tijanic

• State prosecutor open to prosecuting deputy PM

• February 16, 2000: "NUNS Initiative: STOP VIOLENCE

• February 18, 2000 ANEM press release: Criminal charges against deputy Serbian prime minister

B292: What measures will the state take against state terrorism from the West?

Seselj: Our response will be adequate, based on the Constitution and the law, with the use of every instrument we have at our disposal for the defence of our country.

B292: Against whom?

Seselj: Against all who are instruments of Western countries. Against them all. Perhaps against your paper as well. You're from Novosti, right?

B292: B292.

Seselj: Ah! From B292! What's that? I've not heard about that. Is it registered? Minister, is there anything like that? Against all those who act on instructions from the West, who receive money from the Americans and their allies to act against Yugoslavia. In an adequate way. You are going to experience this adequate way in practice. The gloves are off. Now it's crystal clear: he who lives by the sword shall die by the sword, and all of you should bear that in mind. Don't think that we're going to let you kill us off like rabbits, or that we'll be coddling and caring for you like potted plants. Be careful! You from B292 and the other treacherous outlets. You can't really believe that you'll survive if we're executed. You're very wrong. Any more questions?

B292: Since this thing happened with Mr Bulatovic - this tragedy and crime - are you personally afraid, bearing in mind what you have said about the state terrorism currently being carried out by other countries? You're a prominent politician.

Seselj: You should know by now that I am afraid of nothing. Absolutely nothing!

B292: A few weeks ago, rumour had it that you'd been injured in an accident.

Seselj: Well you can see that I'm not hurt! Why would I be afraid? It's you who should be afraid. You work for a treacherous medium.

B292: It's not a treacherous medium.

Seselj: Ah! It's not a treacherous medium! All right! You can prove afterwards that it isn't.

B292: After what?

Seselj: After something. You'll see what. The gloves are off. You kill statesmen off like rabbits here, thinking you're safe. You're making a mistake. You're making a big mistake. Now the gloves are off. Anyone who works for the Americans must suffer the consequences. What consequences? The worst possible. You're working against your own country; you're paid American money to destroy your country. You're traitors, you're the worst! kind! There's nothing worse than you! You're worse than any kind of criminals!

B292: That's not true, Mr Seselj.

Seselj: It's very true. It's completely true. You're traitors because you take money from the Americans and you always have. You're the same, the ones who took money to kill the Defence Minister and you who are paid to spread propaganda against your country. You're the same, the same criminals. I'm quite certain about that because they submit official reports about how much money they give you. And you're the same.

B292: Are you looking among journalists for the murderers?

Seselj: We're looking for the murderers among those of you who work for foreign intelligence services. You're accomplices in the murder. You're the same. You journalists think you're some kind of sacred cows? Some of you are cows, all right, but not sacred. You're murderers. You're murderers of your people and your country, potentially. Yes, those of you working for the Americans: you from Danas, you from B92, you from Glas javnosti, from Novosti, you from Blic. You're traitors to the Serbian nation. You're deliberately working in the interests of those who were killing Serbian children. You're doing it deliberately. You've sold your souls. That's what you are!

BELGRADE, February 10, 2000 - The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) expresses dismay at today's statement by Deputy Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Seselj accusing journalists from the independent media of the murder of Yugoslav Defence Minister Pavle Bulatovic. Seselj, who is also the president of the Serbian Radical Party, made the accusation at a scheduled press conference. ANEM rejects with disgust this allegation that journalists have perpetrated terrorist action in this country and also expresses its gravest concern at Seselj's warning of executions.

In an unprecedented verbal attack, laced with open vilification and extremely serious threats, Deputy Prime Minister Seselj, repeating a number of times "the gloves are off," announced that the state would use all means at its disposal to do away with independent journalists. In addition to invoking the Constitution and other legislation, he also warned of the possibility of summary executions. Repeating his claims of treason, comparing journalists with murderers and describing them as being worse than criminals, Seselj openly called for the public lynching of independent journalists, a call to which no journalist can remain indifferent. Accusing journalists of being accomplices in the murder of Pavle Bulatovic, Seselj threatened that, in the case he were executed, many journalists would suffer the same fate. The deputy prime ministers threats were addressed to all employees of and contributors to independent media. In reply to a question from a journalist as to whether the re!

cent spate of murders of senior state officials in Belgrade had put him in fear of his own life, the deputy prime minister replied "It's you who should be afraid".

ANEM notes with regret that our society has sunk to a state where a senior government official can, albeit in a passionate state, make such an unbalanced, irresponsible and frightening statement. In ANEM's view this statement if extremely dangerous, because the force of the state stands behind Deputy Prime Minister Seselj. The journalists of the independent media do not represent any terrorist organisation and are noted for having no weapons but words. Despite the absurdity of the accusation that independent journalists were involved in the murder of Defence Minister Bulatovic, ANEM emphasises that this is still the most ominous allegation heard in Serbia to date.

ANEM further believes that even if this statement from Vojislav Seselj (like those recently made by Serbian Information Minister Aleksandar Vucic) were merely intended to intimidate journalists, Seselj has gone too far with this threat and has overstepped the limits of social behaviour towards journalists from some media. This statement heralds the concrete introduction of open dictatorship in the country.

ANEM demands that the Yugoslav and Serbian presidents and all state institutions declare themselves in public on this statement and react in accordance with their duty. ANEM calls on the authorities, if they are in agreement with today's statement from Vojislav Seselj, to openly proclaim that there is no freedom of speech in this country, rather than claiming that such freedom exists while at the same time threatening journalists and others from the independent media with execution. In this way journalists would at least know the rules of the game and would not need, although blameless, to live in fear of being set upon and killed in some dark alley. This is the fate Seselj's statement implies may await them, although they are only exercising their own right to provide - and the public's right to receive - professional and objective news and information.

Journalists to file criminal charges against Seselj

BELGRADE, Friday - The Association of Independent Journalists in Vojvodina announced today they would bring criminal charges against Deputy Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Seselj over his threat of execution for independent journalists yesterday. Seselj, who is leader of the far-right Serbian Radical Party yesterday accused journalists at a press conference of being involved in the murder of Yugoslav Defence Minister Pavle Bulatovic, and warned them of executions.

The president of the Serbian Parliament's Security Committee, lawyer Slobodan Nenadovic told B292 today that the public prosecutor was obliged to bring charges if there were evidence of the criminal acts of treason and being an accessory to murder, as Seselj alleged. If the allegations were false, added Nenadovic, the accuser would qualify legally as having committed slander and politically as a coward.

The Association of Independent Electronic Media described Seselj's statement as a proclamation of the establishment of blatant dictatorship in the country. The Association called on the Serbian and Yugoslav presidents to declare themselves publicly on the position of the deputy prime minister and act accordingly.

Former Interpol Vice-President Budimir Babovic told media that the police and judiciary should react to Seselj's threat, saying that the threat of execution was a matter for police and the law. Federal Information Minster Goran Matic told a press conference a few minutes ago that he agreed with Seselj, adding that part of the Yugoslav media was being used to destabilise the country. Certain newspapers, said the minister, had no respect for the authorities in this country but only for Madeleine Albright and Robin Cook. This, he said, put them on the other side of the line from those citizens for whom their country was important. Asked whether he agreed with Seselj that some journalists were terrorists, Matic said he did.

ANEM'S WEEKLY REPORT ON MEDIA REPRESSION

FEBRUARY 5 - 11, 2000

ENFORCEMENT OF INFORMATION ACT

BELGRADE, February 5, 2000 -- Principal Belgrade Municipal Judge Dobrivoje Glavonic said today that misdemeanour judges have consistently enforced Serbia's Public Information Act and will continue to do so.

Glavonic told media that since the act was proclaimed in November 1998, misdemeanour judges had imposed 56 fines under the act, acquitted defendants in nine cases and dismissed complaints in 315 cases.

Glavonic also said that the majority of complainants under the act had been members of opposition parties. He added that the fines provided for by the act were not large, noting that similar fines in other European countries were up to fifty times heavier.. Judge Glavonic, however, failed to note that such fines and such laws do not in general exist in civilised countries.

SERBIAN INFORMATION MINISTER AGAIN ATTACKS INDEPENDENT MEDIA

BELGRADE, February 6, 2000 - Serbian Information Minister Aleksandar Vucic attacked all independent media at a press conference on Sunday, February 6, accusing them of being in the service of foreign power. On this occasion he laid particular emphasis on ANEM Television, reiterating stories of millions of US dollars allegedly received from abroad by local independent media. The information minister also accused the independent media of collaboration with what he described as terrorist media from the Kosovo region.

The Association of Independent Electronic Media today expressed concern and strongly condemned this most recent virulent attack by Minister Vucic.

LOCAL TELEVISION CASE CONTINUES

SVILAJNAC, February 7, 2000 -- The Municipal Court in Svilajnac today continued hearing charges against Television Svitel brought by the Municipality of Svilajnac.

The Municipality is seeking the station's eviction from the premises it has used since the municipality cancelled a ten-year lease.

The issue is the result of a conflict between the station and Municipal Chairman Dobrivoje Budimirovic over the station's editorial policy.

Budimirovic has complained that the editorial policy runs counter to the municipality's political agenda, saying openly that the contract was cancelled because opposition leaders had appeared as guest of the station.

In the first hearing, the defence rejected the charges on the political orientation of the station and proposed an investigation to establish the facts on this.

The case was adjourned without date after the judge said she would assess the claims of both sides.

"NEDELJNE NOVINE" FINED AGAIN

BACKA PALANKA, February 7, 2000 -- A misdemeanour judge in Backa Palanka has imposed a fine of 100,000 dinars [c.5,000 DM] on local public weekly "Nedeljne novine" and a further fine of 50,000 dinars on the paper's editor-in-chief.

The paper was convicted over publication of an interview with Yugoslav Customs chief Mihalj Kertes. The judge found that Kertes, a senior Socialist Party official, had made untrue statements which grossly insulted the dignity, reputation and honour of the plaintiff, Kosta Vujanovic.

The newspaper and its editor-in-chief had previously been fined the same amounts on January 6, for similar convictions relating to charges by Vujanovic against the Backa Palanka branch of the Socialist Party of Serbia.

The Socialist attack on Vujovic, a journalist, resulted from a story by him published in the Vojvodina section of daily "Danas" on December 4 last year. The article analysed and commented on events and public statements from Backa Palanka Socialist officials.

NIN CHARGED

NOVI SAD, February 9, 2000 - Weekly news magazine NIN is scheduled to appear later today before a Novi Sad magistrate. Dragan Milkov of Novi Sad has laid a complaint against NIN under the Public Information Act following the publication, on February 3, 2000, of an interview with Gasa Knezevic, until recently a member of the teaching staff of Belgrade University's Law School.

Milkov's complaint relates to a section of the interview in which Knezevic accused him of having dismissed Professor Tibor Varadi from the Law School of Novi Sad University.

NIN editor-in-chief, Stevan Niksic, has also been summonsed to appear before the court.

TV NOVI SAD DIRECTOR DEMOTED

NOVI SAD, February 9, 2000 - Stevica Smederevac, the director and editor-in-chief of TV Novi Sad has been relieved of his duties and relegated to the position of journalist in the documentary programs department. Mileva Tomic, deputy editor of information programs, Ljiljana Djurdjeva, assistant editor of information programs, Miroslav Vukasinovic, editor of NS Plus and Tomislav Micovic, editor of Novosadske Razglednice (Postcards from Novi Sad) and a breakfast program, were also dismissed. The reasons are so far unknown but it appears that one issue is a conflict between Radio Television Serbia Director Milan Todorov, who is also the Vojvodina spokesman for the Yugoslav United Left, and the dismissed director who is a member of the Socialist Party of Serbia.

The post of editor-in-chief has been filled by Smilja Batinic, with Dragan Krivacevic and Slavica Putnik as assistants. No appointment has been made to the position of director. The NS Plus program has been put under the control of the TV Novi Sad department for cultural and arts programs, headed by Zoran Slavic, a member of the Yugoslav United Left Central Committee for Novi Sad. The move has resulted in a smaller number of influential posts at the Novi Sad state television centre being occupied by Socialist Party members.

LOCAL RADIO IN COURT IN KIKINDA

BELGRADE, February 10, 2000 - The owner of Radio Senta and VK Radio in Kikinda, Zoran Milesevic, is to appear before a local magistrate on Monday, February 14, 2000, for the continuation of a hearing which commenced on February 8. Milesevic is answering charges of operating radio stations without a proper licence, brought by the Federal Ministry of Telecommunications under the Public Information Act.

Radio Senta has previously been closed down on two occasions, on October 9, 1998 and April 3, 1999. The charges at present before the magistrate's court were scheduled immediately after the station had announced it would recommence broadcasting.

At the same time as the station was first closed, on October 9, 1998, when police and inspectors forced entry onto the premises, Radio Senta received a written advice from the Federal Ministry of Telecommunications requesting payment of license fees for its transmission frequency. Thus the ministry was proposing that Radio Senta pay the fee and legalise its operation "as there were no problems which would prevent the station from broadcasting" while, at the same time, the same ministry - through the written order presented by its inspectors - ordered the station to cease broadcasting and authorised its inspectors to seize transmission equipment from the station. When the inspectors learnt of the station having received this document from the ministry asking for payment of license fees, they were confused and contacted Assistant Minister Aca Stevanovic by telephone. Mr Milesevic, who was standing next to the inspector making the call, clearly heard Minister Stevanovic's words: !

"Close the station down no matter what!" Mr Milesevic acquainted the magistrate, Miroslav Periz, with these facts at the hearing on February 8. A ministry inspector, Slobodan Gavric, told the court that the request for fee payment had been delivered to Radio Senta in accordance with a subsequent decision of the ministry by which every station, whether operating legally or not, was required to pay a licence fee for use of frequencies.

The Association of Independent Electronic Media protests in the strongest terms at the continued repression of the media through the trial of Mr Milesevic under the Public Information Act.

NEWS MAGAZINE AND EDITOR FINED

NOVI SAD, February 10, 2000 - After a three-hour hearing in a Novi Sad court, Magistrate Miladin Ugljesic convicted and fined weekly news magazine NIN and Editor-in-Chief Stevan Niksic under the Public Information Act. The magazine was fined 100,000 dinars, about 5,000 DM and Niksic half that amount.

The charges were brought by Dragan Milkov, former secretary in the Socialist-Radical coalition city government of Novi Sad and a former dean of Novi Sad University School of Law. Milkov claimed that the reputable magazine had defamed him by publishing an interview with Gasa Knezevic, until recently a member of the teaching staff of Belgrade University Law School.

In the interview, published on February 3, Knezevic described the difficulties caused in universities by the departure of the most able staff. In that context he added that Milkov, while dean of the Novi Sad Law School had dismissed Tibor Varadi. Knezevic told the court that NIN had quoted him accurately and that Varadi himself had confirmed that he had not left the Law School of his own free will.

DEPUTY SERBIAN PRIME MINISTER THREATENS EXECUTION OF JOURNALISTS

BELGRADE, February 10, 2000 - In an unprecedented verbal attack laced with naked vilification and serious threats, Deputy Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Seselj, who is also leader of the Serbian Radical Party, repeated several times "The gloves are off" and said that that the state would respond with adequate measures to independent journalists, announcing that, apart from the strict application of the provisions of the constitution and the law, arbitrary executions could take place. Reiterating his allegations of treason and accusing journalists of being accomplices in the murder of Federal Defence Minister Pavle Bulatovic, Seselj publicly threatened that many journalists would be executed in the case of his murder. The public threats by the deputy Serbian prime minister were addressed to all employees and associates of the independent media. Asked whether he feared for his life following the recent spate of murders of senior state officials in Belgrade, Seselj told the press conference "It's you who should be afraid!".

"DRAMATIC DAYS" ARE YET TO COME

BELGRADE, February 11, 2000 - A panel discussion entitled "Position of Media and Freedom of Expression" was held today, organised by the main board of the Democratic Party in Belgrade. Journalist Aleksandar Tijanic, the editor-in-chief of Danas daily newspaper Grujica Spasovic and lawyer Goran Draganic took part.

"In Serbia there is no problem of the media", said Aleksandar Tijanic. "In Serbia we're facing a much bigger problem, and that problem is how to live in a country where defence ministers and the secretaries of political parties are being murdered in the streets and where the majority of citizens, who can't earn a living, think that there must be something illegal behind any success." Tijanic stressed that, in his view, "dramatic days" lie ahead of us.

"I think we're already in the midst of a civil war ", said Grujica Spasovic. "We, the people who work in the media, have experienced this firsthand. They're accusing us almost every night of being mercenaries and quislings in foreign service and they're waging a political, financial and psychological war against us."

Lawyer Goran Draganic said that punishments imposed on media outlets for publishing press releases from the opposition political parties actually meant that censorship existed in Serbia.

JOURNALISTS BARRED FROM SOCIALIST CONFERENCE

NOVI SAD, February 10, 2000 - Journalists from the daily newspapers Glas Javnosti, Danas and Blic and the Beta news agency were barred from attending the fourth conference of the Vojvodina branch of the Socialist Party of Serbia. Conference organisers had invited only "eligible" media or, in the words of one security guard at the conference, "only those we thought should cover this event".

FEDERAL MINISTER BACKS SESELJ ACCUSATIONS

BELGRADE, February 11, 2000 - Federal Information Minister Goran Matic has told a press conference that he is not surprised by threats and allegations made by Deputy Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Seselj this week. Matic told a press conference that "There are indeed journalists in Yugoslavia who are being used by foreign powers to destabilise the country."

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February 14, 2000 ANEM press releases

State media denounces Aleksandar Tijanic

BELGRADE, February 14, 2000 - The Association of Independent Electronic Media strongly condemns today's commentary by the state news agency, Tanjug, which implies that the noted journalist Aleksandar Tijanic was involved in the murder of Yugoslav Defence Minister Pavle Bulatovic.

Reiterating the general and unfounded claims that opposition parties and some media are nests of treason, Tanjug cited Tijanic and an article by him published in Banjaluka daily "Nezavisne novine" on January 16.

In the article Tijanic predicted a number of events for February, including the closing of a newspaper, the jailing of an editor, the leader of a major party facing charges in court and that "one prominent individual will be relocated to the other world in order to obfuscate theories on who commissioned the Serbian Renewal Movement assassination and that of Arkan".

Tanjug, referring to the last of these predictions, concluded that Tijanic had "obtained information that a senior official would be assassinated". The agency went on to say that Tijanic had been deliberately chosen to cast aspersions on the state because of his credibility as a former Serbian Information Minister.

ANEM reiterates that such unsupported libel of journalists is dangerous and unacceptable. The Association emphasises that this attack on an individual, coming after a week of fierce assaults from the most senior officials of the republic and the federation, raises grave concern for the safety of Tijanic.

After having created an atmosphere for the public lynching and intimidation of journalists working for media not controlled by the state, the state news agency has now identified an "enemy" in Aleksandar Tijanic. The attack is additionally motivated by Tijanic's defection three years ago, leaving the position of information minister to become an independent journalist.

Concern for Tijanic's life results from the fact that a commentary similar to this was published by Tanjug, and later carried by Politika Ekspres in early April 1999. The target on that occasion was the late proprietor and editor of Dnevni Telegraf and Evropljanin, Slavko Curuvija. Within days, Curuvija was killed in cold blood. The details of his murder are still not known.

ANEM trusts that the similarity between these two denunciations is a matter of coincidence only and that no physical attack on Tijanic will ensue. Bearing in mind the heated atmosphere created by such unbalanced statements from representatives of the state, and the fear presently being spread, ANEM emphasises that any "incident" following this new Tanjug denunciation would raise serious doubts about some elements of the present government.

--

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Further information on the media in Yugoslavia is available at: www.freeb92.net

State media open season on Aleksandar Tijanic

BELGRADE , Tuesday - State media today joined the chorus of accusations against independent journalist Aleksandar Tijanic, which was led yesterday by state news agency Tanjug. A number of newspapers today repeated the Tanjug claim that Tijanic, who is a former Serbian minister for information, was privy to plans for the assassination of Yugoslav Defence Minister Pavle Bulatovic. Daily "Borba" political analyst Ivan Padjic accused Tijanic, on that basis, of protecting the assassins by not warning the appropriate institutions of the murder.

The denunciation of Tijanic resembles a similar campaign mounted last year by state media against newspaper proprietor Slavko Curuvija. Within days, Curuvija was shot dead outside his apartment in central Belgrade. The killers have never been identified.

Tijanic told Radio B292 today that he would press charges against Padjic and the author of yesterday's Tanjug commentary, saying that he wanted to go to court to show that he was not afraid. Commenting on the accusation that he knew who had killed Bulatovic and was protecting them, Tijanic said that today's Borba editorial was a demonstration of the panic that was overwhelming the authorities.

State prosecutor open to prosecuting deputy PM

BELGRADE, Tuesday - Federal Prosecutor Vukasin Jokanovic said today that anybody who thought Deputy Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Seselj had committed a criminal act, and had evidence for that, should file criminal charges. Jokanovic was commenting on an incident last week in which Seselj, who is also leader of the Serbian Radical Party, accused journalists from the independent media of involvement in the murder of Defence Minister Pavle Bulatovic and threatened them with execution. Representatives of four opposition parties today told media that they would press charges against Seselj for threatening journalists. At a press conference today, representatives from the Serbian Renewal Movement, the Democratic Party, the Democratic Party of Serbia and the Jagodina branch of the Civil Alliance of Serbia also demanded that the Serbian Public Prosecutor charge Seselj with criminal offences.

A growing number of independent media have banned reporting on Seselj and his party. Media groups Spektar and ANEM today responded to the call form the Independent Union of Serbian journalists to boycott the Radicals. The Union today announced that another seventeen newspapers from the Local Press Association had joined, along with Spektar and all stations in the ANEM network.

February 16, 2000

"NUNS Initiative: STOP VIOLENCE

Directors and chief editors of major private and independent media in Serbia have endorsed the initiative of the Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia (NUNS) that the media discontinue until further notice their reports from news conferences by the Serbian Radical Party (SRS), publication of the SRS press releases or statements from its officials.

The decision has been taken in protest at the threats from the Serbian Radical Party leader, Vojislav Seselj, with arrests and liquidations of journalists.

We demand that the state enforce the law in order to prevent the provocation of violence, the spread of hatred and all other forms of intolerance.

We call on other media to join this protest.

Singatories: NUNS, Blic, Beta, B292, Danas, Studio B, Fonet, Glas Javnosti, Radio Index, TV Mreza, NIN, TV Production WIN, Vreme, Republika

In Belgrade, February 15 2000"

The initiative was endorsed the same day by 32 ANEM affiliates and 21 Local Press members, as follow:

• Radio Aleksinac
• Radio 021, Novi Sad
• Radio B2-92, Beograd
• Radio Bajina Basta
• Radio BOOM 93, Pozarevac
• JP "Cacanski glas" (radio-televizija i lokalni list)
• Radio Devic, Smederevska Palanka
• Radio Globus, Kraljevo
• Radio Jasenica, Smederevska Palanka
• Radio Kontakt, Pristina
• Radio Kragujevac
• Radio Kraljevo
• Radio M+, Mladenovac
• Radio Pancevo
• Radio Patak, Valjevo
• Radio Pirot
• Radio Pozega
• Radio Sombor
• Radio Trstenik
• Gradska TV, Nis
• TV Bajina Basta
• TV Kragujevac
• TV Kraljevo
• TV Glas Obiliceva, Novi Knezevac
• TV Lav, Vrsac
• STV Negotin
• TV Grk, Prokuplje
• TV Pozega
• TV Pirot
• TV Pancevo
• TV Trstenik
• TV Devic, Smederevska Palanka
  
• Nezavisna svetlost
• Mlavska zora
• Borske novine
• Vranjske novine
• Magazin Has
• Pecat
• Zig
• Tibiskus
• Kolubara
• Porodicni krug
• Bajinobastanske novine
• Moj Kovin
• Sedmica
• Vesti
• Novosadski nedeljnik
• Gradjanin
• Nezavisni
• Becejski mozaik
• Kikindske novine
• Virus
• Timocke novine

February 18, 2000 ANEM press release

Criminal charges against deputy Serbian prime minister

BELGRADE, February 18, 2000 The Association of Independent Electronic Media has laid criminal charges against the leader of the deputy Serbian prime minister, Vojislav Seselj, who is also leader of the Serbian Radical Party. The charges were laid at the Fourth Municipal Prosecution Office in Belgrade on February 15.

The charges include the felonies of jeopardising security, as defined in Article 67 (2) of the Serbian Criminal Code and disseminating false information (Article 218 of the same legislation).

The charges allege that Seselj, at a press conference in Zemun on February 10, accused journalists from a number of independent media of being accomplices in the assassination of Yugoslav Defence Minister Pavle Bulatovic, and made a serious threat to an unspecified number of journalists from certain news organisations, whereby he had committed the felonies specified in the charges.

As evidence of the facts submitted, the plaintiffs proposed the prosecution office obtain sound and video footage of the news conference from Radio Television Serbia and Studio B Television, which both broadcast reports from the news conference on February 10.

ANEM has obtained information that the Fourth Municipal Prosecution Office yesterday officially demanded that Studio B Television provide recordings of its news programs from February 10. This may indicate that the complaint has been accepted. ANEM has no information as to whether the recordings have been demanded from the state media network.

ANEM will follow developments in this matter closely and obtain information on he proceedings from the prosecution office. It is hoped that the prosecution office will soon ask the Serbian Government to rule on whether its deputy prime minister, Vojislav Seselj, is immune from prosecution.

ANEM emphasises that it remains sceptical as to whether the law will be adequately enforced against the deputy Serbian prime minister. Despite this, the Association insists that the complaint be dealt with and legal proceedings commenced, because of its desire to see that the law in Serbia applies to all citizens and its insistence that no citizen be regarded as being above the law.

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